Topic: People who cause their own illnesses through unhealthy lifestyles and poor diets should have to pay more for health care.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Model answer

Healthcare costs all over the world are rising due to the rise in modern diseases which are a product of unhealthy lifestyles. These Lifestyles include a poor diet, smoking and lack of exercise. While many people do not need to use medical services, there are others who constantly need medication due to their unhealthy daily lives. In my view, people who are responsible for their own illness should have to contribute towards the cost of their medical treatment.

First of all, it is important to highlight the fact that ignorance is not an excuse. Information about health and fitness is widely available so everyone should know that smoking and eating fast food are not only bad for our health, but can cause serious diseases. Furthermore, there is a wide range of help services which people can consult for advice on improving their health from doctors to sports trainers and dieticians. People who continue to live unhealthy lifestyles despite advice from doctors or medical professionals should not receive free or reduced cost medical services.

Secondly, it is clear that certain types of treatment are very expensive and some diseases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle. If people who are obese require treatment, they are taking money away from another patient, whose operation or treatment may be costly, but necessary. Therefore, it could be a good solution to make people pay some money towards the cost of their treatment. If their health improved, this payment could be reduced.

In conclusion, making people contribute towards the cost of medical treatment for self-inflicted diseases could help reduce this type of disease and make more money available for other people.

TỪ VỰNG CHỦ ĐỀ HEALTHCARE

• Medical cover/medical insurance: bảo hiểm y tế (insurance for the cost of medical treatment)

• Plague: bệnh dịch (serious disease that kills many people)

• Prescription: đơn thuốc của bác sĩ (the medical document with a treatment written by a doctor)

• Nervous breakdown: suy nhược thần kinh (when you can’t mentally cope anymore)

• Intake: lượng tiêu thụ (the amount of a particular substance that is eaten or drunk during a particular time)

• Fit as a fiddle: sức khỏe tuyệt vời (to be in very good health)

• Dietary habit: thói quen ăn uống (eating similar things regularly)

• Health-conscious: có ý thức về sức khỏe (to be concerned about how your diet and lifestyle are affecting your health)

• Portion: khẩu phần ăn (the amount of food served to a person)